Dispensing caps



Feb. 14, 1961 w. 5. WILSON ETAL 2,971,680

DISPENSING CAPS Filed May 27. 1957 III m:

90 DELL. M. MAL/L76,

VVoaDkoW W /1. $0M,

INVENTORS.

' the prior dispensing cap structures.

United States Patent Q DISPENSING CAPS Woodrow S. Wilson, 1970 N.Altadena Blvd., Pasadena, Calif., and Dell M. Malick, 725 N. PickeringAve., Whittier, Calif.

Filed May 27, 1957, Ser. No. 661,679

6 Claims. (Cl. 222-512) This invention relates to new and improveddispensing caps.

The term dispensing caps is employed in this specification in order todesignate various types of cap structures which may be manipulated so asto achieve either an open or closed action. Such cap structures areprimarily designed to be used with various containers such as, forexample, squeeze bottles, tubes or the like, for various liquid orsemi-liquid or even paste-like preparations. Thus, dispensing caps ofthe present invention may be employed with such diverse types ofmaterial as various petroleum fractions, cosmetic creams, suntanlotions, detergents or the like.

Virtually anyone familiar with the container industry has personalknowledge of a wide variety of dilterent types of dispensing caps whichare presently on the market. Virtually anyone in this industry also hasknowledge of the fact that literally hundreds, if not thousands ofdifferent types of dispensing caps, as the term is employed in thisspecification, have been developed in the past. It is consideredimpossible to discuss all of these various types of prior structures andthe various disadvantages and limitations of them. The fact that thereis still a market for a new and improved dispensing cap is consideredevidence enough that the prior structures of this type have not beenconsidered to be completely satisfactory for all purposes.

With the comparatively recent development of injection moldingtechniques utilizing various thermoplastic materials such as commongrades polyethylene, a number of new dispensing cap structures have beendeveloped. Certain of these structures may be considered more or lessacceptable for many purposes; however, all of these new dispensing capstructures formed out of thermoplastic materials by injection moldingtechniques are considered to suiier' from one or more inherentdisadvantages for-comrnercial purposes, because of either the types ofconstruction employed, molding problems, problems pertaining tocommercial adaptability and availability, or various other like factors.

A broad object of the present invention is to provide new and dispensingcaps which overcome many, if not all, of the aforegoing disadvantagesand limitations of Another object of this invention is to providedispensing cap structures which may be easily and convenientlymanufactured by injection molding techniques out of thermoplasticmaterials having an inherent amount of resiliency. Thus, the presentinvention has as one of its objects the production of dispensing caps ofthe polyethylene and various other thermoplastic materials havingsimilar or substantially identical properties to polyethylene. A stillfurther object of the present invention is to provide dispensing capstructures which are 'easy to'assemble after the various parts of thesestructures have been molded. An object of the present invention is alsoto provide dispensing cap structures which may be used with existingmachines for placing caps on various types of containers. Obvious- "icely, another object of the present invention is to provide dispensing capstructures in which an effective sealing action is easily andconveniently obtained.

Because of the nature of this invention, it is not considered necessaryto set forth in detail a still further long list of various objects andadvantages of the invention. Other objects and advantages of thedispensing cap structures of this invention will be fully apparent tothose skilled in the art to which this invention pertains from adetailed consideration of the remainder of this description, includingthe appended claims and the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing cap of of this invention;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 6 6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 7-7 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view similar to Fig. 5 of a further modifieddispensing cap of this invention; and

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

In the various figures of the drawing, like numerals are used todesignate like parts Wherever convenient for purposes of illustrationand explanation. It is to be understood that the accompanying drawing isnot to be taken as limiting this invention in any respect. Those skilledin the art to which this invention pertains will realize that a widevariety of diiierently and/ or diversely appearing dispensing capstructures utilizing the essential features or principles of thisinvention as hereinafter set forth and explained may be readily designedwithout the exercise of inventive skill.

As an aid to understanding the invention, it may be stated inessentially summary form that it concerns dispensing cap structures eachof which includes a cap member and a spout; The cap member employed in adispensing cap of this invention is formed so as to include a top, and agroove is located Within this top, and overhanging shoulders or arms areprovided which overlay the groove. The purpose of these shoulders is tohold a spout structure within the groove so as to securely form a sealbetween the spout structure and a hole located within the top of the capleading from the bottom of the groove. With this type of construction,the spout may be moved in a reciprocal manner within the groove so as toeither open or close a dispensing cap structure.

The actual details of this invention are best more fully explained byreferring directly to the accompanying drawing. In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 ofthe drawing there is shown a complete dispensing cap 10 of the presentinvention which includes a cap member 12 formed as a single piece byappropriate injection molding or other similar techniques usingconventional polyethylene or other materials of a somewhat resilientnature having substantially the same properties. This cap member 12 isbuilt about a top 14 and a dependent peripheral skirt 16, the interiorof which may be threaded in accordance with conventional practices. Ifdesired, the threads within the skirt 16 may, of course, be replaced byconventional snap ring, or if desired, the skirt 16 may be formedintegrally with the top of the container, such as, for example, apolyethylene tube or the like.

The structure of the top 14 of the cap member 12 is considered importantwith this invention, This top 14 is formed so as to include what may beconsidered a top groove 18 having a flat bottom 20; from the center ofthis bottom 20, there extends a hole 22 into the' interior of the skirt16. Around the outside of this hole upon the bottom 20 there is formedas an integral part of the cap member 12 a small ring-like ridge 24.This ridge preferably has the cross-sectional shape of a common V, andis normally deformed by contact with a spout 2-5 so as to maintain aseal at all times.

From a consideration of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing it will be seenthat the spout 26 includes a flat bottom 23, as shown which normallyrests against the bottom 20 and which serves partially to deform theridge 24 as indicated. The bottom 23 or the spout 26 is held against thebottom 2% of the groove 13 by means of resilient arms or shoulders 30'bearing against tapered sides 32 of the spout 26. In essence the arms3t) act as spring means so as to firmly hold the spout 26. in positionat all times, even as this spout is moved. It will be noted from anexamination of the initial three figures of the drawing the spout 26includes a projecting top ridge 34 which is preferably knurled orserrated or the like so as to facilitate moving the spout 26 back andforth. As shown in the drawings this spout 26 is in a closed position.

In order to open the dispensing cap 19, the spout 26 is moved to theright as viewed in Fig. 3 of the drawings so as to bring the ridge 34 upagainst extensions 36 on the arms '39. These extensions as are formedintegrally with the cap member 12 in the illustrated embodiment of theinvention. They serve in order to stop the motion of the spout 26 insuch a manner that a passage 33 within the spout 26 is in communicationwith the hole 22. it will be realized that when the spout 26 is in thisopen position, this spout extends from the skirt 16 a short distance, soas to be capable of being conveniently used in dispensing the contentsof a container to which the cap it is attached.

When the spout 26 is in an open position as shown, another hole 40formed so as to lead from the bottom 2% of the groove 13 to the interiorof the skirt 16 is uncovered. As seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings, thisother hole 46 is also surrounded within the bottom 20 of the groove 13by another ridge 42 similar'to the ridge 24 previously described. Thisother ridge 42 also serves substantially as in the same manner as theridge 24. When the other hole 4%) is uncovered, as by movement of thespout 26 to an open position, this other hole permits airto enter acontainer upon which the dispensing cap 19 is used so as to facilitatepouring from this container. As is apparent from Fig. 3 of the drawing,the other hole it) isclosed by the spout as when this spout is in aclosed position. Obviously this other hole 40 and the ridge 42 may beomitted if desired. This other hole 4-1 is normally employed with onlycertain types of fluids which are capable of being easily poured.

A small bump like projection 44, formed integrally with the cap member12 serves to hold the spout 26 against movement away from the cap member12 when the 'spout 25 is being moved to a closed position. It isconsidered obvious that the projection 44 and the extensions 35 may beliterally popped or bent out of the Way so as to permit comparativeleasy insert of the spout 26 in the position shown. Preferably the spout26 is formed out of a material such as polyethylene or the like so as tobe capable of giving slightly in order to aid in forming a seal with thecap member 12. If desired, however, the spout 26 may be formed out of amore rigid material, such as for example polystyrene or the like.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 of the drawing there is shown a modified dispensingcap 50 of the present invention which is similar to the dispensing cap.10. This modified dispensing cap 59 includes a cap member 12 having atop 54 and a dependent, internally threaded skirt 56. From F to be theobvious manner.

in the'top 86. leads from the bottom 3180 of the groove 92 into theinthe top 54 of the cap member 52 there extend parallel shoulders orarms 58 of a resilient character similar to the arms 39 previouslydescribedr These arms 58 overlie portions 60 of a spout '62 so as'tosecurely hold the bottom 64 of this spout against the bottom 65 of whatmay be considered a groove 68 defined by the two arms 58 and the top 54of the cap 56.

A hole 70 leads from the center portion of the bottom 66 of the groove68 to the inside of the cap member 52 surrounded by the skirt 56, andaround this hole 70 there is formed an annular ridge 72 similar to theridge 24 previously described. This ridge 72 deforms slightly during theuse of this dispensing cap 50 so as to securely form a seal at alltimes, even when the spout 62 is moved within the groove 68. During suchmotion, of course, the arms 58 securely and resiliently hold the spoutagainst the bottom 65 of this groove 53. In use the spout 66 is moved soas to place a passage 74 formed within the spout in direct communicationwith the hole 70 so that the contents of a container may be dispensedthrough the dispensing cap 59. It is noted that small ridges 76 areprovided upon each end of the groove 68 upon the top 54 of thedispensing cap 5%, in order to aid in aligning the passage 74 and thehole 7% and so as to insure against movement of the spout 62 oif the top54 of the cap member 52.

From the aforegoing those skilled in the art will realize that thedispensing cap 5%? is very similar to the dispensing cap 16 indicated inthe preceding discussion. This dispensing cap 58 does not, however,include an extra hole.

for use in allowing passage of air into a container upon which the cap5%) is employed. If desired, such another hole may be added to the cap5% in what is considered An important feature of the cap 5% lies in thefact that the spout 62 may be easily assembled upon the top 54 of thecap member 52 by merely snapping or deforming temporarily the arms 58 soas to permit insertion of the spout 62 within the groove 68. if desired,the ends of the spout 62 within this groove may be knurled or otherwiseformed so as to facilitate the movement of the spout 62 within thisgroove, although this is not considered necessary with this embodimentof the invention because projecting character of the ends of the spoutshown. The spout 62 and the cap member 52 are preferably formed of thesame or equivalent materials used in forming the cap member 12 and thespout 26 previously indicated. 7

Such materials are also preferably employed in forming a spout 8d and acap member 82 in a further modified dispensing cap 84 of the presentinvention shown in Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings. This dispensing cap 84is formed so that the cap member 82 includes a top'86 and an internallythreaded sln'rt 88 and arms or shoulders of' a resilient characterextending from the top 86 so as to define a groove 92 in which the spout8t? is'carried. The arms 9!) overlay portions 9 of the spout in thisembodiment of the invention so as to securely hold at all times thespout in position against a deformable ridge 96 similar to the ridge 2dsurrounding a hole or opening 98 It will be realized that the opening 98terior ofthe cap member 82.

With the dispensing cap 84 another ridge 102 similar to the ridge 24 isprovided within the bottom 1G0 around an air hole 164 which is alsolocated upon the top 86 so as to lead from the bottom Hit) of the groove92 into the interior of cap member 82. Also in the dispensing cap 84- asmall, elongated groove 106 which is normally covered by means of aspout is provided within the bottom tilt? of the groove 92 and a smallprojection 108 is provided upon the bottom 110 of the spout 80 so as tofit within this groove 106. In essence the groove 1% acts as a stop orlimiting means so as to limit the movementof the spout 80 from a closedposition as shown to an open position which is achieved when the spout80 is moved to the right of the position shown in Fig. 9 of the drawingor when this spout 80 is moved from an open position to a closedposition as shown. When the spout 80 is moved to such an open position,a passage 112 within the spout is aligned with the hole or opening 98.Also when the spout is moved to such an open position, the hole 104 is,of course, uncovered.

One feature of the dispensing cap 84 lies in the fact that means areemployed for limiting movement of the spout 80 which are not visible tothe eye and which are covered at all times so as to avoid clogging fromdirt or the like. The arms 90 with this embodiment of the invention arepreferably of such resiliency as to permit easy insertion of the spout.If desired, knurled surfaces 114 may be provided on the spout 80 so asto aid in the movement of the spout.

Those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains will realizethat a large number of different types of dispensing cap structures maybe readily designed to utilize the essential type of action achieved asshown and described in this application. They will further realize thatwith any of the cap structures herein shown and described a separate airhole to facilitate pouring may be either incorporated or left outdepending upon certain commercial factors. It is considered importantthat cap structures formed in this manner indicated have a generallyflat appearance and present a pleasing appearance to the eye when usedon various types of containers. It is also considered important that noprojecting means or parts are normally formed as an integral part of thedispensing caps herein shown and described which preclude the use ofthese caps in modern automatic equipment utilized in order to placeconventional caps on various types of containers. Obviously any of thetypes of cap structures herein shown and described can be used withvarious means for attaching these cap struc tures to a container besidesthe means specifically indicated in this specification, and if desired,these cap structures may be formed as an integral part of the tops ofvarious types of containers, such as for example, tubes formed out ofpolyethylene.

An important aspect of this invention lies in the discovery that meanssuch as are described in this specification can be employed in order tocreate what may be termed a sliding type of seal, and that with astructure as herein described that a satisfactory balanced' type offorce distribution necessary to form a seal can be obtained. Because ofthese and other factors this invention is to be considered as beinglimited only by the appended claims forming a part of thisspecification, and these claims in turn are to be considered as beinglimited only by the conventional patent doctrine of equivalents.

We claim:

1. A cap structure which includes a cap member formed of a materialhaving resilient properties, said cap member being formed so as to havean external groove partially covered by resilient overhanging shouldersformed thereon, said groove having a bottom, said cap member having ahole formed therein leading from said bottom of said groove into theinterior of said cap member, said cap member including a deformablesealing ridge having a V-shaped cross-sectional configuration located insaid bottom around said hole; and a spout having a flat bottomresiliently held in said groove against said sealing ridge by engagementwith said shoulders, said spout being a passage formed thereinterminating adjacent to the bottom of said groove, said spout having aflat bottom adjacent to said. bottom of said groove, said spout beingcapable of being moved so as to place said passage in communication withsaid hole, said spout deforming said ridge so as to form a seal aroundsaid hole at all times; and means for limiting movement of said spoutwith respect to said cap for use in aligning said hole and said passage.

2. A dispensing cap as defined in claim 1 including: means defininganother hole formed to lead from the bottom of said groove through saidtop, said other hole being located with respect to said hole so as to benormally sealed by said spout and so as to be uncovered when said spoutis moved to place said passage in communication with said hole.

3. A dispensing cap which includes: a top formed of a resilientmaterial; means formed integrally with said top for attaching said topto a container; means defining a groove in said top on the side thereofremote from said means for attaching said top to a container, saidgroove having a bottom; means defining a hole leading from the bottom ofsaid groove through said top; ridge means formed integrally with saidtop extending around said hole in said bottom of said groove, said ridgemeans being capable of deformation in the formation of a seal; resilientarm means formed integrally with said top and overlying at least part ofsaid groove adjacent to said hole, said resilient means extending abovesaid hole and said groove; a spout fitting within said groove, saidspout having a flat bottom being capable of being slid within saidgroove, said spout being engaged by said resilient arm means, saidresilient arm means holding said spout against the bottom of said grooveand said ridge means so as to form a seal between said spout and thebottom of said groove around said hole; and means defining a passagewithin said spout, said passage terminating in a portion of said spoutadjacent to the bottom of said groove, said spout being capable of beingmoved so as to place said passage in communication with said hole.

4. A dispensing cap as defined in claim 3 wherein said spout is formedof a resilient material.

5. A dispensing cap as defined in claim 3 including: projection meansformed on said spout and said top, said projection means serving tolimit movement of said spout within said groove so as to prevent theaccidental movement of said spout out of said groove and so as to aid inaligning said passage with said hole, said projection means beingcapable of temporary deformation so as to permit assembly of said spoutwithin said groove.

6. A dispensing cap as defined in claim 3 including: means defininganother hole in said top, said other hole leading from the bottom ofsaid groove through said top, said other hole being spaced so as to benormally covered by said spout and so as to be uncovered by said spoutwhen said spout is moved so as to place said passage in communicationwith said hole.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,018,552 Cooke Feb. 27, 1912 2,033,256 Schacher Mar. 10, 1936 2,141,572Tucker Dec. 27, 1938 2,171,175 Grate Aug. 29, 1939 2,202,653 Glidden May28, 1940 2,532,690 Zimmerman Dec. 5, 1950 2,701,668 Zayan Feb. 8, 19552,717,726 Mart Sept. 13, 1955 2,727,658 Mart Dec. 20, 1955 2,793,795Wilson et al. May 28, 1957 2,828,895 Mart Apr. 1, 1958 2,866,580 NissenDec. 30, 1958

